Practical projects and tips for the backyard DIY fanatic
Rita Hill put some laundry pegs to good use in the kitchen. Using only wooden pegs, a length of timber and some glue, Rita made a handy rack for hanging bills, postcards, greeting cards, notes and all those wonderful artworks the kids bring home from school! You will...
Phillip Ceccato’s sculptures of animals and birds are “95% anatomically correct”. He has achieved this level of accuracy by combining a love of wildlife, attention to detail and a lot of research at the Queensland Museum. Phil established Wise Design...
This makeover is a classic example of how to extend adventurous colours from the house out into the garden. Don was driving along the street recently and noticed a house painted in fabulous colours. The owner had actually mixed the main brick-red colour himself,...
Rita Hill visited Angie Wright to learn some of the finer points of egg decorating. Angie runs an egg decorating business from her duck farm at Oakville, New South Wales. Using a few simple techniques, Angie showed Rita how to make some stylish, low fat gifts for...
Jackie French showed how to make an old-fashioned shampoo that is really good for your hair, because it does not contain harsh detergents. It’s also cheap to make and it smells gorgeous. Jackie says that some old-fashioned things are well worth preserving!...
At the moment it’s very fashionable to use animal print fabrics for furnishings and cushions. Rita Hill showed how to complement these fabrics with some jungle-style artwork. These fantastic prints are made using real leaves! You’ll need large leaves from...
It’s no wonder kids love pinatas – they’re colourful, full of lollies and they’re about the only things children are actually encouraged to break! The pinata is said to go as far back as Marco Polo, who discovered it in the Orient and...
Rita Hill showed how to take plain mirrors and turn them into decorator statements using inexpensive materials such as rope, paint and feathers. Rope mirror medium-sized, round craft mirror with MDF (medium density fibreboard) frame 8 metres natural sisal rope hot...
Rita Hill revamped a tired old iron and timber garden setting. This was a labour of love – it didn’t cost much but plenty of elbow grease was required! Revamping the garden setting 1. Give the setting a good hose down and a scrub, then leave it to dry. 2....
Transforming a House and Garden Don looked at a classic example of a house and garden in urgent need of a makeover. The light, orange-brown colour of the house bricks did not work well with the garden, and the garden had no outdoor living area. Instead, there...